Results 9,141-9,160 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Colombia enjoy excellent, long-standing relations across a range of areas. . Ireland takes a very active role in supporting human rights defenders, indigenous communities and civil society space in Colombia, recognising that addressing social, land-related and environmental issues is an essential component of Colombia’s peace process. We remain firmly committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Embassy of Ireland to Mexico currently holds Ireland's accreditation to Cuba and is actively engaged on the bilateral relationship with Cuba, regularly interacting with the Cuban authorities, the Irish community in Cuba and the EU Delegation in Havana. Officials in my Department maintain frequent contact with the Embassy of Cuba in Dublin on a range of issues and initiatives in support of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has excellent and warm bilateral relations with New Zealand, anchored in shared values, economic ties and close people to people links. This relationship was strengthened with the opening of embassies in Dublin and Wellington in 2018. We cooperate closely across government, on a broad range of topics. As you will be aware, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins recently took office...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Wopke Hoekstra, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and I, both attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 23 January.   The Netherlands is traditionally an important ally for Ireland in the EU.  We are like-minded on most foreign policy and economic issues. This close relationship at the EU level has increased following the decision of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The recent engagements between the EU and the UK around the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol are welcome. The joint statement on 9 January by European Commission Vice-President Šefcovic and UK Foreign Secretary Cleverly demonstrated that progress has been made, for example, on the key issue of the EU’s access to UK customs IT systems. As they noted in their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Stormont House Agreement was collectively agreed by the British and Irish governments and a majority of the political parties in Northern Ireland. It remains the agreed means of addressing the legacy of the past. Within the framework of the Stormont House Agreement, it is envisioned that an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR) would be established to enable victims...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Aviation Industry (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Under the longstanding Common Travel Area arrangements, Irish and British citizens are entitled to move freely between Ireland and the UK. Under Irish legislation - specifically Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004 - any person entering the State must be in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document, issued by or on behalf of an authority recognised by the Government, which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Chief of Staff has overall responsibility for the Redress of Wrongs process, under Section 114 of the Defence Act, within the Defence Forces. While I am notified of a Redress of Wrongs complaint, as provided in the Defence Act, the process operates independently of myself, as the Minister. While I cannot comment on individual cases subject to internal...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (8 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the format requested. My officials will collate same and I will arrange to have this data provided to the Deputy in due course. 

Address by H.E. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Cuirim céad míle fáilte chuig an gcomhshuí speisialta seo de Dháil Éireann agus Sheanad Éireann roimh an Uachtarán Metsola. Is pribhléid agus onóir mhór dúinn go bhfuil sí anseo linn ag ceiliúradh 50 bliain de bhallraíocht na hÉireann san Aontas Eorpach ón uair a chaith pobal na tíre seo vóta sa...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: It will be future governments that benefit from a replacement jet because the procurement process is such that it will take a bit of time. I do believe it was time to commence the process because an inordinate time was taken to consider it. My view is that we should move ahead on that front. Future governments and the people, in terms of our capacity, will benefit. I have always been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will follow that up.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their constructive suggestions. I am very much taken by Deputy Smith's point. When talking to military personnel, including those in the Naval Service, Air Corps or Army, there is a strong link back to geography and where barracks were present. Of that there is no doubt. The focus of capital investment at the moment is on upgrading existing facilities but I will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, with procurement you do not spend a whole lot in the early years. To take a radar facility for example, or any building that is planned, it is in the latter stages of the completion that the drawdown happens in respect of capital expenditure, so there can be a progressive increase in capital expenditure over the lifetime of the plan. Deputy Brady and I will have to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Durkan made similar points about the tradition and those areas, similar to what Deputy Smith referenced.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his helpful question. The ministerial air transport service, MATS, is delivered primarily by use of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which came into operation in 2004. Where it is unavailable, the CASA and-or other Air Corps aircraft may be used. The Learjet is currently approaching its natural end of life. Based on current serviceability issues, discontinuation of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's contribution. His insights are valuable. I did not realise he was a pilot at one stage.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I take the point. The Deputy referred to the Mexican Government crash. That was a shocking crash and a shocking loss of life. There have been issues with the Learjet. There is no point in saying otherwise. There have been serious issues with it. I am not prepared to stand over it. A replacement jet is required. In Afghanistan, we essentially had to depend on other governments to get...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry; I was racing through that a bit. As I said, to date, approximately two thirds of these 38 early actions have been achieved. For example, the head of transformation and the head of strategic HR positions have been advertised externally and progressed. Implementation and governance structures have been developed and initiated, including the establishment of an implementation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their comments. I am in office for just over a month, and I am determined to get beyond the management-speak and to get stuff implemented. I have reflected on the presentations I have received so far. Some progress has been made in some areas, but not fast enough in others. We have discussed the Organisation of Working Time directive. This is not simple. From my...